The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced Friday, April 18, that it will postpone the opening of its recreational boating season becausandemic.
The season was scheduled to open May 1. It will be postponed until at least Memorial Day weekend, May 23, and potentially longer depending on guidance from health experts and government leaders.
The recreational boating program allows the use of canoes and kayaks on four of New York City’s waters supply reservoirs in the Catskills – Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton and Schoharie. To protect water quality in the reservoirs, the recreational boating program relies on a small network of trained businesses who steam clean the boats before they are used each spring. Steam cleaning is critically important because it prevents the spread of invasive species that harm water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Many of the businesses that provide steam cleaning are closed as part of the statewide effort to slow the spread of the virus, so DEP is unable to inspect and provide annual training at those businesses at this time.
Fishing from rowboats with valid boat tags will continue to be permitted on DEP reservoirs, along with shoreline fishing. Unlike canoes and kayaks, which are removed from the reservoirs each fall, most rowboats are stored year-round on lands alongside the reservoirs.
DEP has also collaborated with its partners to install signs at popular trailheads to encourage social distancing on trails that traverse water supply lands.
For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.
